Cam actuated concrete form clamp



April 6, 1954 P. N. SITTON 2,674,284

CAM ACTUATED CONCRETE FORM CLAMP Filed Jan. 11, 1951 INVENTOR PHILIP N.SITTON I BY 1 h 45 ATTORNEYS F I G- 4 Patented Apr. 6, 1954 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE CAM ACTUATEl) CONCRETE FORM CLAMP Philip N. Sitton,Dayton, Ohio Application January 11, 1951, Serial No. 205,543

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to fastening devices adapted for use in securingtogether sectional forms that are particularly adapted for use inconnection with the pouring of semi-fluid substances such as concrete inthe building of various structures.

The invention is particularly adaptable for use in connection withsectional forms that are used for the manufacture of concrete septictanks, it being the purpose of the use of the invention to removablyattach together form sections so that they may readily be disengagedfrom a concrete wall after it has set. While the invention will beparticularly described with reference to the use of sectional formsadapted for the manufacture of concrete septic tanks, yet it will beunderstood that the fastening device can be used in connection withother types of sectional forms to secure together adjacent formsections.

An object of the invention is to provide a fastening device that isreadily removable from form sections to permit release and removal ofform sections relative to one another and which is readily replaceableinto the form sections when in their selected position to releasablyhold the sections together.

It is another object of the invention to provide a fastening device ofthe kind referred to in the foregoing object wherein the device locksitself in position for securing form sections together.

It is another object of the invention to provide a fastening device inaccordance with the foregoing objects wherein the device is adjustableto correct for wear in the device or to provide for correction betweenspaced elements on the form sections that cooperate with the fasteningdevice in the event the spaced elements are bent out of normal position.

It is a further object of the invention to pro vide a fastening devicethat will have the features of the foregoing objects wherein the deviceis simple and inexpensive to construct.

It is another object of the invention to provide a fastening device thatis completely removable from form sections that are releasably heldtogether by the fastening devices to thereby eliminate loose fasteningconnections on any part of the form sections which would readily becomedamaged in handling of the form sections.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for releasablyconnecting form sections and concurrently aligning the edges of the formsections relative to each other upon securing the form sections togetherwith fastening 2 devices that are releasable from the form sections.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the drawingsand the following description:

Figure l is a perspective and elevational View of a portion of a formcomposed of form sections adapted for the manufacture of a concreteseptic tank.

Figure 2 is a perspective elevational view of a portion of the formillustrated in Figure 1 with the fastening device of this inventionshown in cooperation therewith.

Figure 3 is a front'elevational view of a fastening device of thisinvention illustrated in cooperation with form sections.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 ofFigure 3.

In Figure 1 there is illustrated a sectional form adapted for themanufacture of a concrete septic tank. The sectional form consists of aninner form wall it that comprises the form sections H and I2, each formsection II and I2 forming one-fourth of the periphery of the inner wallof an elliptical septic tank wall.

An outer form wall it is spaced from the inner form wall It to providefor a uniformly spaced area i3 between the form walls Hi and H intowhich concrete can be poured to form the wall of a concrete septic tank.

The outer form wall I5 is composed of form sections l5 and H. Thesesections iii and I! each form one-half of the outer periphery of thewall of the elliptical septic tank.

The form sections H and i2 are separated at the juncture 18, while theouter form walls Iii and I! are separated along the juncture l 9. Theform sections H, I2 and I6, I! can, therefore, be separated and removedfrom a concrete wall poured in the space 13 provided between the formwalls i0 and l 5 for removal of the sectional form walls from the formedproduct when the concrete has set sufiiciently.

The form sections H, l2 and 56, H are releasably held together byfastening devices that are more particularly illustrated in Figures 2, 3and 4. While the fastening devices are illustrated as releasablysecuring the form sections it and i1, yet it will be understood that thesame kind of fastening device can be used to hold the form sections IIand S2 in their secured position.

The form sections it and I! are each provided with a verticallypositioned angle iron member 20 and 2| respectively that extends alongthe edges 22 and 23 of the respective form sections l6 and I1, the edges22 and 23 forming the parting juncture |9 between the form sections I6and H. A plurality of fastening devices 25 extend between the angle ironmembers 20 and 2|, as illustrated in Figure 1; these fastening devices25 being completely releasable from the angle iron members 20 and 2|when it is desired to separate the form sections I6 and IT.

The angle iron member 20 is provided with a slot 26 extending inwardlyfrom the edge of the web 21 that is positioned vertically to the formsection I6. Similarly, the angle iron member 2| has a slot 28 extendinginwardly from the web 29 that is at right angles to the form section H.The slots 26 and 28 are in substantial planar alignment.

Reinforcing members 30 and 3| are placed at each side of the slot 26 andextend between the web 21 and the web 32 of the angle iron member 20.Similarly, reinforcing members 33 and 34 extend between the web 29 andthe web 35 of the angle iron member 2|, the reinforcing members 33 and34 being positioned at opposite sides of the slot 28 in the web 29.

Each of the fastening devices 25 consists of a rod 35 that has athreaded end 36 on one end thereof and an eye 31 on the opposite endthereof. The threaded end 36 is adapted to receive the pair of lockingnuts 38 and 38 and the washer 40.

The eye 3'! of the rod 35 fits within the forked yoke 4| that terminatesin a handle 42. A bolt 43 extends across the forked yoke 4| and throughthe eye 31 of the rod 35, whereby the rod is pivoted within the forkedyoke 4| at one end of the handle 42. A nut 44 holds the bolt 43 in theforked yoke 4|. The forked yoke 4| is provided with a cam element 45 oneach of the forks Ma and 4H) that is adapted to engage the web 28 of theangle iron member 2| when the fastening device 25 is in position betweenthe angle iron members 20 and 2| as illustrated in the drawings.

When the fastening device 25 is in locking position holding the formsections l6 and I1 together, as illustrated in the drawings, the camelements 45 are positioned outwardly of a line Y extending between thepivot axis of the eye 31 and the engagement of the opposite end of therod 35 with the web 21 of the angle iron member 28, thereby urging thehandle 42 in a counter-clockwise direction holding the heel 46 on thehandle 42 against the form section I! and thereby locking the fasteningdevice 25 against opening thereof.

An aligning guide 58 is secured to the angle iron member 2| so that theedge of the guide 58 is parallel to the wall of the form section l5.Similarly, an aligning guide 52 is secured to the angle member 2| withthe edge 53 parallel to the wall of the form section Thus, when the formsections l6 and I! are positioned adjacent each other, the aligningguide 58 engages the edge of the angle member 2|, while the aligningguide 52 engages the edge of the angle member 20, the two members 58 and52 crossing in the form of the letter X so that the edges 22 and 23 ofthe form sections l6 and H are brought into immediate engagement. Asmany of the cooperating aligning members 58 and 52 as desired may beplaced along the angle members 20 and 2| to obtain proper edge alignmentbetween the form sections I6 and I1.

In-use, the form sections "5 and I! are first placed in the positionillustrated in Figure 1. The fastening devices 25 are then placed withthe rod in the slots 26 and 28 of the angle iron members 20 and 2|respectively with the washer 48 against the member 20 and the camelement against the angle iron member 2|. The lock nuts 38 and 39 arerotated to adjust the length of the rod 35 to cause a meeting of theedges 22 and 23 of the form sections l6 and I! when the handle 42 isrotated in a counterclockwise direction to place it in the positionillustrated in Figure 4 to lock together the form sections l6 and I1.

As the form sections l6 and H are drawn together into their lockedposition, the aligning members and 52 position the edges 22 and 23 ofthe form sections l6 and I! in proper edge alignment.

To release the fastening device 25, the handle 42 is rotated in aclockwise direction, thereby allowing the rod 35 to be removed from theslots 26 and 28. The form sections l6 and I! can thereafter beseparated.

While the apparatus disclosed and described herein illustrates apreferred form of the invention, yet the apparatus is capable ofmechanical alteration without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and all modifications that fall within the scope of theappended claims are intended to be included herein.

What I claim is:

1. In a concrete wall form having a plurality of wall sections inangularly disposed relationship to each other around the periphery ofsaid form, a fastening device for connecting a pairof said sectionstogether along their edges com prising an angle iron member verticallypositioned along each of said edges, transverse slot means in each ofsaid angle members and an arcuate rod removably positioned in said slotmeans, said rod having a threaded portion on one end receiving nut meansfor frictional engagement with one of said angle iron members, an eye onthe opposite end of said rod, a cam element rotatably mounted on saidrod with pivot means extending through said eye, said cam elementengaging the other angle iron and its associated wall section, a handleon said cam element for connecting and disconnecting said wall sections,said handle lying substantially against the adjacent wall sections insaid connecting position.

2. In a concrete wall form having a pair of wall sections disposed at anangle relative to each other, means for connecting said sectionstogether along their adjacent edges comprising angle iron memberspositioned along each of said edges, slot means in each of said membersand a rod removably positioned in said slot means, said rod having athreaded portion on one end thereof and receiving a nut means forfrictional engagement with one of said angle members, an eye on theopposite end of said rod, a cam element rotatably mounted on said rodwith pivot means extending through said eye, said cam element engagingthe other angle iron and its associated wall section, a handle on saidcam element for connecting and disconnecting said wall sections, each ofsaid angle members having a guide member secured thereto, said guidemembers lying in flat engagement with one another when said handle is inits connecting position.

3. In a concrete wall form having a pair of angularly disposed wallsections with abutting vertical edges, L-shaped support membersextending along each of said edges, each L-shaped support member havingone leg secured to the wall section adiacent the edge thereof, slotmeans disposed in the other leg of each of said L-shaped support memberssaid slots being disposed in planar alignment, 9. rod removablypositioned in said slot means, one end of said rod having means forfrictionally engaging one of said support members, the other end of saidrod having a camming means thereon for connecting and disconnecting saidsections, and a means for aligning said edges comprising a flat barextending from each of said support members, said bars lying inengagement when said camming means is in its connecting position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberNumber Number Name Date Holmes Dec. 7, 1897 Herrick Aug. 27, 1907Markham Nov. 17, 1908 McHugh Nov. 8, 1910 Trimble Aug. 8, 1911 Smith May18, 1915 Giduz May 29, 1917 Wotnoske Oct. 24, 1933 Anthony Aug. 8, 1950FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Mar. 18, 1911

